Radio on shuffle.

Q101 switched to an "on shuffle" format starting today, expanding its playlist from 200 to 1,000 songs going back 25 years.

This is the best thing they could possibly do. I caught a little of their "on shuffle" thing last weekend, when they supposedly filled a 40gig iPod with their library and hit "shuffle." It was the first time I listened to more than one song in a row on Q101 in years. I like Nine FM, which claims "we play anything," and I'm glad the station is shaking things up. I think more stations could benefit from what WXRT used to call "everything in no particular order" -- including XRT lately.

This is potentially a great long-term plan for Q101. They're positioning themselves to be the XRT of Generation X -- playing all their favorites from back in the day, while also exposing them to newer music. XRT has grown older with its audience, now catering to the younger baby boomers and post-boomers, primarily in their 40s and early 50s. They've been quite successful with it, developing a very loyal fanbase. Q101 should do the same.

Speaking of XRT, I was listening yesterday morning on the way to work when the news came that Terri Schiavo had died. You'd think that after news like that, they'd play something sort of somber or respectful, something to match the tone, right? Terri Hemmert put on "Lay Down Sally." Cinnamon and I couldn't help but snigger.

Posted by Andrew Huff at April 1, 2005 07:48 PM